Protect the Health of Your Lungs: A Snapshot of a Former Smoker

Quitting is a Tough Decision

Lon Powley, a UPS employee in the Rocky Mountain District, had been toying with the idea of quitting for about two years before he finally made the decision to stop smoking. Over those two years, he rolled his own cigarettes thinking they were “better” for him, saved him money and didn’t make him smell as bad as commercial brands. But inside he knew these were just excuses so that he could justify his smoking.

When Lon finally had enough, he remembered a letter that UPS had sent to all employees the previous January. Lon says, “I must have been ready then and didn't realize it, because in September I could still find the letter. No small feat—my filing system is more set-it-on-the-desk than put-it-where-I-can-find-it.”

He called the number provided in the letter and expected to be berated for being “one of those smokers.” But he was mistaken—the voice on the other end of the phone greeted him in a friendly manner and efficiently obtained his registration information without making him feel uncomfortable. Lon was then transferred to a Quit Coach®, and they talked a little about his tobacco history; such as how many cigarettes he smoked per day, what his triggers were, and when he usually felt the need to smoke. He realized that he was extremely motivated to quit.
Lon also realized what a vast support network he would have—family, friends, and customers, as well as the coaches from Free & Clear®. Everyone he knew was offering him their support—even other smokers, whose stories helped him a great deal. Lon explains, “What really got to me were the smokers who would take out their oxygen tube so they could smoke. I didn't want to spend the years after my retirement dragging around a bottle of oxygen while trying to hunt, fish and ride a motorcycle. I was ready... I made the choice... I'm a quitter.”

When You’re Ready, Help Is Here

It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health – even if you smoke low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes. In fact, smoking harms nearly every organ of your body and causes a long list of diseases including cancer, heart diseases and lung diseases. 
You may have a lung disease if you have any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing that brings up of a lot of thick mucus
• Frequent lung infections
• Need for extra oxygen to help with breathing

Some people feel they have smoked too long to benefit from quitting. Others feel they haven’t smoked enough to be at risk. No matter how long you have smoked, you will be healthier starting the minute you quit:

• You will cough less because your lungs are not filled with smoke.
• Your risk of lung infections and disease will decrease.
• You may not need extra oxygen to help you breathe.
• Your breathing may get better.
• Your family and friends will breathe cleaner air and they may also worry less about you and your health.

Quitting is the best thing you can do for you and your health. Learn how to think differently, gain new skills to deal with everyday situations that used to involve tobacco, and make good decisions to quit for life. The program is available at no additional cost to participants in a UPS-administered health care plan who are:

• Active employees or their eligible dependents age 18 or older
• Employees on an approved leave of absence
• Retirees under age 65 who have elected medical coverage
• COBRA participants who elect to continue medical coverage under a UPS-administered health care plan

Like Lon, you can quit smoking. Quit For Life^® will teach you how. Call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (866-784-8454) or visit www.quitnow.net/ups.

Other Resources
If you are not eligible to participate in the Quit For Life program, check with your health plan to find out whether resources for quitting tobacco are available through the plan; or call:

• The American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at 1-800-QUIT-NOW

Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention